Hiding From Shadows: Part Two

A serialized Louisiana ghost story.

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Welcome to part two of Hiding from Shadows — my new short, serialized ghost story. It will be released in four parts up to Halloween day. This first episode is free. The other three episodes are available to paid subscribers only.

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four

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PART TWO

“Did you spend the whole night outside in this rocking chair? That can’t be good for your health.”

Ellen’s eyes snapped open. She drew in a sharp breath. Bright rays from the morning sun kissed her eyes. Ellen blinked a few times and turned her head toward the source of the voice.

Beth, her neighbor, greeted her with a friendly smile. She stood outside the screen door and peered through the screen into the back porch.

“Is it morning already?” Ellen paused and let out a yawn. “I can’t even remember falling asleep.”  

Beth nodded and responded with a brief laugh.

“I’ve had plenty of those same nights. Usually when I’m curled up reading a book. It drives Damon nuts because I always forget to switch off my reading lamp before dozing off.”

Ellen closed her eyes for a moment and allowed herself to crack a slight smile. An image of Beth’s husband wearing an annoyed frown popped into her mind. She had seen the same expression from him before when Beth said or did some oddball things. It never went beyond that simple frown. Ellen never recalled Damon saying a single cross word to his wife.

A twinge of jealousy gripped her. Ellen wondered what it would have felt like to have experienced that kind of marriage instead of the one she endured.